San Juan Festival

San Juan is the feast of John the Baptist and it is the principal holiday of the Peruvian Amazon, because the baptist's association with water maps onto a region defined by rivers. On 24 June people go to the river or a stream in the morning for the baño bendito, a purifying bathe said to bring health for the year, and then eat juane - rice with chicken, egg and olives seasoned with turmeric-like guisador, wrapped in a bijao leaf and boiled, made in enormous quantities and named, by tradition, for the saint's severed head. Towns hold processions, dances, competitions and concerts, and Iquitos, Tarapoto, Pucallpa and Moyobamba each run several days of events. The Fiesta de San Juan is a public holiday across the Amazon regions, and transport and accommodation fill accordingly.

What you actually see

• The river bathing - the morning baño bendito in rivers and streams.
• The juane - rice and chicken in a bijao leaf, made everywhere on the day.
• The processions - religious and civic events across the Amazon towns.
• The scale - a public holiday across four regions with several days of events.

When to go

24 June, with events over the surrounding days. One to three days. Book transport and rooms in advance - the Amazon regions travel heavily for this.

Honest expectations

Flights and hotels in Iquitos, Tarapoto and Pucallpa fill and prices rise. Heavy drinking. River bathing at crowded spots is not always safe or clean. Hot and humid throughout.

Nearby

Iquitos, Tarapoto, Pucallpa and Moyobamba all hold major celebrations.